Strong defense leads Post 8

By ROY FUOCONews Chief correspondent

Sunday

Jun 13, 2010 at 1:45 AM

WINTER HAVEN - The score will show that Winter Haven Post 8 piled up the runs against Haines City, but its clutch pitching and defense were equally important in its 10-0 victory Saturday afternoon in the 2010 John Marotti Tournament at the Chain O' Lakes Complex.

Four double plays, including two inning ending with the bases loaded, kept the game from being competitive.

"We turned four double plays," assistant coach Rick Bairley said. "It could have been a different ballgame."

The tournament began Saturday with pool play. There are three divisions with two pools in each division. Teams will play their final pool game this morning. The winners of each pool will play in the division finals at 1 p.m. The runners-up will also meet.

Luke Borders continued to hit the ball well. He had a two-run single in the third and also singled and scored in the sixth when Winter Haven closed out the game. Jon Lopez and Cody Mizelle also had a pair of RBIs.

"We hit well in the clutch," Bairley said.

Leading 1-0 after Tyler Pike walked and later scored on a passed ball in the first, Winter Haven broke open the game with five runs in the third.

Mitchell Piatnik singled, Pike walked and Nate Cruz singled to lead off the inning. After a strikeout, Borders singled home two runs. Lopez had a sacrifice fly and Mizelle also had an RBI single.

Dan Myers went the distance for Winter Haven and got out of a couple of jams.

Haines City missed the chance to take the lead in the second when Rob Whalen singled and Chris Rheume walked to lead off the inning. However, Myers struck out Cody Hill then induced an inning-ending double play.

In the fourth, Tommy Passerello and Whalen sandwiched singles around a strikeout, but Winter Haven turned another double play to end the inning.

Then with one out in the fifth, Dalten Scarborough reached on an error, Kyle Moores walked and Jose Serrano singled to load the bases. Winter Haven turned yet another double play to end the inning.

Winter Haven ended the game in the sixth. Borders singled and Taylor Cockrell walked. The next four batters, Nathan Mann, Lopez, Mizelle and Piatnik, drove in one run a piece on three singles and Mizelle's sacrifice fly to end the game.

news@newschief.com

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.